Not to go all MFCSS on everyone here, but next week is a must-win. 

Carlton will beat GC. If we lose to Hawthorn, we will be playing Sydney in Sydney for a top 4 spot, as Carlton will pass us if we go 0-2 and they go 2-0. And Sydney is one of the only other sides in as good form as Carlton.

Is it break glass play Schache time.

Personally 4th spot is our best option

T Mc needs 2 Casey hit outs, no point picking him off a good first up effort to only have him battle big time second up. 

waiting to see how the vfl goes tomorrow, but am hopeful it's something akin to...

IN: plugger mac, woey 2.0
OUT: jordon, grundy

smith back to sub, hibbo into the 22

If Tmac does anything tomorrow resembling anything mildly decent, he needs to play. That is if he can run a game of AFL out (can always sub him off for Smith in the last?)

Grundy is a no. JJ is a no. 
 

I would bring in Tmac or BB if either can break into a mild jog, and bring in another small forward to up the forward pressure and give us more at ground level. Spargo if he has a decent game or perhaps AWM? A bit left field but we need to resuscitate the forwardline. Again. 
 

Petty 😭😭😭😭😭😭
 

Edit: Hibbo has to play from now until the end of September. He is built for finals. Smith is too much of an unreliable defender. 

Edited August 12, 20231 yr by Jaded No More

OUT: Smith ( never to return)

         JJ (to be sub)

         Grundy

IN:    Tomlinson

         Harmes

         Hibberd

 

FF  Tracca.

        

Edited August 12, 20231 yr by David-Demon

17 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

Personally 4th spot is our best option

Agreed out of 4th and 3rd spot as the Lions should be a lock for 2nd now.

26 minutes ago, david_neitz_is_my_dad said:

Agreed out of 4th and 3rd spot as the Lions should be a lock for 2nd now.

Lions lose to Pies next week and it’s back down to percentage again if we win. 

Probably had our last loss for the season. Need to be back next week.

I was fully against Tmac inclusion, but after the Grundy forward failed experiment last night then we've literally got no other options.

Do we get Schache in who's got forward craft at least until McDonald feels he's got the appropriate match fitness in his legs?

8 hours ago, Roost it far said:

Is it break glass play Schache time.

Doubt it very much, Goody in his presser when asked about players that could make a case about coming in next week T Mac was the first name he mentioned. We get a good look at him today. Also mentioned Fritta for the week after. 

Is Schache a dirty word?

Melksham must stay in next week.  He's the logical match up for Sicily.  If we shut him down, we win.  Need to keep his intercept game under control.  Gawn to ruck solo.  The Hawks run well and are surprisingly, for a young team, running out the season very well.  Schache is not the answer forward.  We need competitors and he is not one.  We have a days extra break on them but this is now must win to lock up top 4.  Can't see Carlton losing either of their last two.  A win this week for us locks up top 4 and then we get to choose how we go against the Swans depending on the finals possibilities.

9 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Milk had one mark and no goals.

He was great for one game but this is why he is never a constant in the team. Like last year when he popped up, he kicked three goals in a game and fell completely flat in both finals. Sadly the fwd cupboard is well and truly empty. 

What do we do?

Is Tommo worth a gamble?

Got to try something.

It's not Grundy. Not Bbb. Not Schacke, not Tmac and not Melksham. 

At least Jvr is consistent.

I would play Smith forward and bring Tommo back. If T Mac fires today possibly! OUT OF LEFT FIELD..IF MATT JEFFERSON kicks a few today, even though he's not ready... well, he'd be a better option forward than Grundy!!

Edited August 12, 20231 yr by picket fence

9 hours ago, Dee-monic said:

If Carlton win their last two matches, it is still statistically possible for them to push us out of the top four, so a win next week is important even though chances of finishing second now look remote.

You just found what the AFL want. Pies v Blues final.

8 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Lions lose to Pies next week and it’s back down to percentage again if we win. 

Don't make me do it Jaded.

Edited August 12, 20231 yr by Chook

Melksham was disappointing - he can have such an incredible impact on a game but is unreliable. He’s on the chopping block when Fritsch returns but hopefully he can hold a place as sub as I think he’s a good option in that role. 

Gawn and Grundy is such a dilemma: I did notice in an Instagram training clip, Tomlinson was with JVR and and Grundy doing ruck drills. Probably nothing but I don’t think we’ve ever played him forward and I would like to see if he can do anything (anything at all) there.

Smith like Melksham has immediate impact when switched forward but consistency is a concern. Defensive efforts have been shown up a bit. He’ll lose his spot to Hibberd and it will be even harder for him when Fritsch returns. Best hope is probably sub.

IN: Best performing key forward at Casey

OUT: Smith

I really don’t know what should be done with the Grundy situation. If he goes out, I’d probably bring in Tomlinson, which would obviously mean more reshuffling.

 

Edited August 13, 20231 yr by wisedog

1 hour ago, Swooper1987 said:

Melksham must stay in next week.  He's the logical match up for Sicily.  If we shut him down, we win.  Need to keep his intercept game under control.  Gawn to ruck solo.  The Hawks run well and are surprisingly, for a young team, running out the season very well.  Schache is not the answer forward.  We need competitors and he is not one.  We have a days extra break on them but this is now must win to lock up top 4.  Can't see Carlton losing either of their last two.  A win this week for us locks up top 4 and then we get to choose how we go against the Swans depending on the finals possibilities.

The Melk can't cover the necessary ground for an AFL player. That was obvious last night.

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Do we get Schache in who's got forward craft at least until McDonald feels he's got the appropriate match fitness in his legs?

I would have Schache as an emergency and if GC upset Carlton I would bring him in to give it a shot. For me McDonald normally takes quite a few weeks to find form and fitness after a long break, I am not expecting him to unfortunately have an impact for us this year. 

6 minutes ago, dee-tox said:

The Melk can't cover the necessary ground for an AFL player. That was obvious last night.

Can't agree with that.  He, along with nearly every other forward on the ground was ordinary last night.  He was stiff against North - should've had about three frees that weren't paid and before that has been very good.  He is very good in a defensive forward role.  As I said, the logical match up for Sicily.

11 hours ago, dl4e said:

How about Jordan out and Dunstan in.

I agree with all the vfl dominance Dunstable needs a go

9 hours ago, layzie said:

Probably had our last loss for the season. Need to be back next week.

We need to be well on top of Hawthorn at half-time.

Simply has to be an early smashing.

In Mac D / Schache  (depending on reserves match) , Jefferson and Dunstan out Grundy , Smith and Jordan.

5 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

We need to be well on top of Hawthorn at half-time.

Simply has to be an early smashing.

We haven’t started a game well for a month, IMO (when we jumped Brisbane).

Led Adelaide but they had plenty of territory and shots. Trailed Richmond and were 20 down in the second. Trailed North and were 33 down in the second. Conceded 20 of the first 22 inside 50s to Carlton.

Would dearly love a strong start next week as a response. 

Edited August 13, 20231 yr by titan_uranus